Introduction

Four species of "cotton stainers," also known as "red bugs," are known from Florida. However, the most important of these is the cotton stainer, Dysdercus suturellus (Herrich- Schaeffer). Morrill (1910) stated the cotton stainer was the most destructive cotton pest in Florida. Currently, the cotton stainer is a minor pest of cotton, and then only in the southern part of the state.

Figure 1.

Adults and nymphs of the cotton stainer, Dysdercus suturellus (Herrich-Schaeffer).

Credit:

Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida

[Click thumbnail to enlarge.]

This species lost its importance on cotton during the mid-twentieth century, primarily because of the elimination of cotton waste that provided breeding and overwintering sites, but also due to effective chemical controls. However, during that period cotton also lost its former eminence as a crop in Florida. Maximum acreage of cotton in Florida occurred in 1911 and amounted to 319,000 acres. By 1920, it was down to 100,000 acres and remained at about that level until 1937, when a downward trend began. In 1965, 22,000 acres were planted, and in 1966 only an estimated 15,000 acres were planted. However, in the mid-1990s cotton planting experienced a resurgence. In 2003, 109,000 acres were planted in northern Florida. In 2004, acreage was expected to increase by another 5,000 acres (Sprenkel 2004).

Cotton stainers are currently noteworthy because of their presence on and occasional damage to fruits and ornamentals, particularly malvaceous plants such as Hibiscus spp.

Distribution

The cotton stainer is most common in southern Florida and in Cuba. It has been reported in Jamaica and Puerto Rico, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. In view of its scarcity in north Florida, it must be presumed rare in the other three states mentioned. Dysdercus andreae ranges from southern Florida to most of the Antilles and Surinam. Dysdercus mimulus ranges from southern Florida, Texas, and Mexico into Central America and the West Indies. The fourth, undetermined species is known in the United States from two specimens taken at Key Largo Key and Homestead, Florida.

Description and Habits

Eggs:Dysdercus eggs look very much like microscopic hens' eggs. They are pale yellow are laid singly or in small, loose clusters in sand, debris, or decaying vegetable matter. They hatch in about one week.

Nymphs: There are five nymphal stages or instars. The first usually is spent underground. The duration of each of the first four stages typically averages four to five days during midsummer, but the fifth stage commonly takes about twice as long. All five stages require from 21 to 35 days to complete development. The nymphs are generally red. The fourth and fifth instars have dark wing pads, and the dividing lines between abdominal segments becomes very distinct as maturity is approached.

There are several generations a year. The life cycle can vary from about a month to three and a half months, depending primarily upon temperature differences. The various species are attracted to lights.

Hosts and Economic Importance

Medium to large-sized nymphs and adults feed on seeds in developing cotton bolls. The cotton stainer derives its name from its habit of staining cotton an indelible brownish yellow. A grower at Hawthorne, Florida, in 1902 ginned about 1,000 bales of long-staple cotton, of which about 200 bales were classed as stained. Dysdercus suturellus punctures and sucks young bolls, preventing them from coming to maturity.

This insect has been a severe pest of oranges on occasion. In puncturing an orange, a cotton stainer often inserts its beak full length with no visible wound; nevertheless, a single puncture may cause the orange to drop in a few hours from the tree and to decay in one or two days (Hubbard 1885). There are old reports of orange trees well reddened with cotton stainers in which whole crops were lost.

Some other hosts of Dysdercus suturellus include tangerines, okra pods, ripe papaya fruit, pods and blossoms of oleander, seed pods of Jamaica sorrel (Hibiscus sabdariffa), tree hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus), Turk's cap, teaweed (Sida sp.), Caesar's weed or Spanish cocklebur (Urena lobata), Spanish needle (Bidens pilosa), seaside mahoe or portiatree (Thespesia populnea), rose buds and blossoms, eggplant, nightshade, and guava. The hosts of the other species of Dysdercus are essentially the same as for Dysdercussuturellus. The Division of Plant Industry has one record of royal poinciana being severely damaged by Dysdercus andreae.

The feeding activities of cotton stainers on cotton produce a stain on the lint which reduces its value. A few authorities have reported the stain comes from excrement of the bugs. However, most have stated that the stain primarily is a result of the bug puncturing the seeds in the developing bolls causing a juice to exude that leaves an indelible stain. Feeding by puncturing flower buds or young cotton bolls usually causes a reduction in size, or the fruiting body may abort and drop to the ground.

Management

No cotton or cotton seed or other host plant debris that could serve as breeding material should be left on the ground. For small infestations, colonies of cotton stainers on plants can be shaken into a bucket of soapy water. "Tanglefoot" around tree trunks will keep young bugs from crawling up to fruits and blossoms. Small heaps of seeds, fruits, or bits of sugarcane can be used as baits to attract cotton stainers. Then the insects can be killed with a spray of soapy water. Insecticides can be used on ornamentals and fruits, but tolerances must be observed on edible fruits. Follow label recommendations. Management information for Dysdercus on ornamentals in Florida is very limited.

Footnotes

1.

This document is EENY330, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date June 2004. Revised December 2014. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website at http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other UF/IFAS Extension publications, contact your county's UF/IFAS Extension office.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, UF/IFAS Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A & M University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, dean for UF/IFAS Extension.